Sam Jackson

A retired Kenilworth dentist who set up dental clinics in Ethiopia two years ago is now receiving help to improve them from her financial mutual.

Jane Innes-Rees has helped set up a university dental unit in the city of Mekelle and clinics in rural areas of the Tigray region since 2014, one of the worst affected areas hit by the famine and civil war in the 1980s.

Jane is a member of financial mutual Wesleyan, and has now invited the company’s chairty cooridnator Jessica Wilkes-Reading out to Ethiopia to see how they could help.

Jane said: “There are very few dentists in Ethiopia. Dental health is a very low priority in a country recovering from civil war that needs to feed its population and provide fresh water for everyone.

“But poor oral hygiene can lead to other long term problems.

“What these communities need now more than anything is help to create facilities and infrastructure, along with medical equipment and educational supplies, not just money.

“I am thrilled Wesleyan has allowed Jessica to come, so I can show her how much of a difference can be made to the lives of people out there.”

Jessica will visit Mekelle University Hospital to meet dental and medical staff and students, hear about their challenges and find out how second-hand equipment and text books from the UK can be re-purposed for their use.

Jessica said: “Jane has done an incredible job to use her expertise and contacts to improve the dental service at the Mekelle University Hospital. As soon as we heard her story we knew we would be able to help.”